Tire question looks vs functionality

[Qckslvr]

So I am building my GS750 to be close to a café racer. I have found period looking tires. But I am not sure of the quality of these copies. I like to ride my bikes hard, as well as commute them. My other option is to skip period look and go with either a Dunlop GT501 or a Bridgestone BT45.

Thoughts?
Thanks

[TheCafeKid]

So I am building my GS750 to be close to a café racer. I have found period looking tires. But I am not sure of the quality of these copies. I like to ride my bikes hard, as well as commute them. My other option is to skip period look and go with either a Dunlop GT501 or a Bridgestone BT45.

Thoughts?
Thanks

My opinion: tires aren't something to play around with for "looks". They are the one thing that keeps your ass attached to the seat and attached to the road. Don't skimp don't buy outdated designes for originality's sake and don't screw around. Get the best you can. My choice? Avon AM26 Roadriders are a good way to go. Nice a grippy, and good modern compound on a bias ply design. Tires today vastly outperform the OEM stuff. Btw, also my opinion, BT45s are trash. Unless of course you LIKE riding around on what feels like car tires?

[Big T]

What tires have a period look?

Get the best tires you can afford, then spend a bit more

Avons are a popular choice

[Qckslvr]

I had the Bridgestones on my ZX11R and liked em

But all my other bikes had Dunlops on them. The Avons are cheaper than the Dunlops, I like this I will give them a try.

Thanks

[BassCliff]

Hi,

I agree. If you're going to put the bike in a display case just to look at, put period tires on it. If you're going to ride it, put good tires on it.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Qckslvr]

What tires have a period look?

Get the best tires you can afford, then spend a bit more

Avons are a popular choice

Repop tires that are from the day.

https://www.domiracer.com/tires.html

http://store.cokertire.com/popular-tire-applications/motorcycle.html?adjclear=true

http://www.kingstire.com/Street.htm

[hampshirehog]

The best tyres for that period look are Avon Speedmasters aka Skidmasters. There is a good reason for that alternative name - get modern ones.

[bwringer]

At the last vintage bike gathering I went to where people actually ride in (some hooraw near Cincinnati) something like 70% of the vintage bikes were wearing new-ish Avon RoadRiders.

They work so well I wouldn't really care if they had satanic symbols in the tread design, but they actually look really good on a vintage bike, methinks.

Exhibit A:

(Probably the last time my GS was remotely clean... )

Truthfully, I don't care for the way the Pirelli Sport Demons look, but they are another tire that works so well no one cares.

[Steve]

I am not into the cafe racer mindset, but if they are still active out there, what makes you think they wouldn't have modern rubber on there?

.

[Macmatic]

My choice? Avon AM26 Roadriders are a good way to go. Nice a grippy, and good modern compound on a bias ply design. Tires today vastly outperform the OEM stuff. Btw, also my opinion, BT45s are trash. Unless of course you LIKE riding around on what feels like car tires?

+1 on this although I've only put in about 100 miles on them so far. TheCafeKid said they'd turn in a lot better and he was right! I replaced my worn out Cheng Shin Hi-Max shoes with RoadRiders and while I liked the CS tires just fine these feel much better right out of the box so to speak, even before they are broken in properly. I can't wait to get down into the Catskills up up in the 'daks!

Mine do have the optional satanic symbols though, the pentagram and goats head insets send water and small debris directly to hell for a smoother ride.

/\/\ac

[1100E]

TCK is 100% correct, I'm running Avon Road Riders on my '80 and '82 GS1100E. As for looking period correct, they are reminiscent of the Dunlop K391 that was so popular back in the day but I'm sure the rubber compound used in today's tires is much improved. Good luck to you, post a pic of whatever you end up buying.

[Big T]

Repop tires that are from the day.

https://www.domiracer.com/tires.html

http://store.cokertire.com/popular-tire-applications/motorcycle.html?adjclear=true

http://www.kingstire.com/Street.htm

Wow,

Cheapo reproductions of Metzler Lasers!

They look to be good for riding from the trailer to the display area



Ride that bike like you should

[Macmatic]

Those Kingstire tires look like slab sided Cheng Shin Hi-Max knockoffs. The front is almost identical and the rear is differentiated by the car like sidewall.

No thanks!

[Qckslvr]

So a quick update. The Avon Roadriders (100/90-19 and 120/90-18) have been on the bike for a week. So far they are great, handle great, and feel good. My Kirker is keeping me from wearing the chicken stripes off I will probably take the Kirker off and take it for a quick spin open header to wear the stripes off.

[snark]

If you're on a budget get the Pirelli MT66. I have it on my bike that I ride to work daily...even in the rain. Great tires for the money.

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/tpl/tire/product.jsp?skuId=&store=&catId=&productId=p652066&leafCatId=&mmyId=